Dirigible headlight for vehicles.



J. A. ELLISON. DIRIGIBLE HEADLIGHT FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 7, 1912,

Patented Mar. 25, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

' xwmmx J. A. ELLISON.

DIRIGIBLE HEADLIGHT FOR VEHICLES. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 7/1912.

1,057,228, Patented Mar. 25, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES'PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES AUSTIN ELLISON, OF WILMINGTON. DELI-WARE.

DIRIGIIBLE HEADLIGHT FOR VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed September '7, 1912. Serial No. 715069.

turning of the Search or head lights in uni-.

son and substantially in parallelism with the front wheels of the vehicle for the purpose of projecting the light in the line of travel. as set forth in my Patent No. 1.04;"),008, granted November 19, 1912.

Apparatus of the class designated is subjected to an exceptional degree of strain and vibration. and hence is liable t-o'rapidly deteriorate and become inoperative, besides creating. undue resistance which retards the speed and impairs the utility of the vehicle.

The object of mv present invention is to overcome these difiiculties, and to attord less complicated mechanism whereby the lamps may be connected in the simplest and mostdirect manner with thesteering gear of the vehicle,-the construction at the same time being compact and durable as well as comparatively inexpensive.

The invention consists in the specific constructionand arrangement of parts de scribed and claimed, a distinguishing feature being the utilization of. miter gearing in such manner that a single lever and connecting rodare theonly parts interposed between the primary lamp turning mechanism and the steering gear of-the vehicle, as hereinafter fully set forth.

in the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, is a diagrannnatic plan illustrating the practical application of my improved dirigible lamp apparatus to an automobile car, which latter is represented in partial outline only: Fig. 2, is a side view of the operative parts of my dirigible lamp mechanism shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3, is a front elevation, upon an enlarged scale, of the primary operative parts of my dirigible lamp mechanism shown on the right hand side of the carin. Fig. 1; Fig.4, is a top view of the parts shown in Fig. 3, the connecting rod to the scering gearbeing broken away, and the' steering gear clamp being omitted; Fig. 5.

is a vertical sectional elevation, taken upon Patented tar. 25, 1913.

plane of line Fig. i; Fig. 6, is a hori zontal sectional elevation takenupon plane of line (3(3 Fig. 5; Fig. 7, is an elevatio-n'of the inner side of primary spindle bearing and connections. detached from the frame of the car: Fig. 8, is a. detail view of one of the thrust arm extension members &c.: Fig. 9, a sectional elevation, similar to Fig. 5,.of the left hand or secondary lamp spindle mount; Fig. 10, a detail view of the joint between the steering gear clamp and the transmitting rod.

In Fig l. A, represents the hood of an automobile, and a, a, stationary parts of the, frame work of the machine, a, a. being the steering knuckles, and (4 the men'iber of the steering gear which actuates the same.

The drawings show the parts so arranged that the motion derived from the steering gear of the vehicle is transmittedto the lamp spindle on the right hand side of the car. although this is not a material feature, as either lamp spindle may be equipped as the primary turning spindle-4 1m other or secondary spindle being so coupled to such primary turning spindle as to turn in unison therewith. and being similarly constructed and mounted except that the miter gears and connections are omitted. \Vilh this exception in mind. the following do scription of the bearing mount applies to both lamp spindles. it being further under stopd that ldo not confine myself to the identical construction of supporting parts shown in which 7), represents a standard bolted to a longitudinal member. or station- 'ary part a, of the frame or chassis. This standard I), carries a bearing bracket 7). rig-' idly bolted thereto or otherwise forming an integral part thereof. The top of the hearing bracket 1). is formed with an annular race way in which are seated anti-friction balls. and on these latter rests a spindle plate .s,-- also formed (on its under side) with an annular groove or race way ter the fivliv t of anti-friction balls. as will be umlcrstwal bv rtference particularly to Figs. 3, and El of the drawings. Resting on top of the spin dle plate .9, is the hub 11. of a thrust arm 17. and on top ot'the huh (I. ot the thru.-t arm rest-s the huh (I, of the lamp amuse. 1". upon and betweenwhich a lamp is suspendial in the usual manner. The spindlaplate .w. thrust arm hub (Z. and lamp support hub c. are formed with interlocking parts and are rigidly secured'to the spindle bolt 3. which elastic resilient lower end of each sp ndle bolt S, by a spring Ifiitvtyi-nterposed between a nut or shoulders",

collar latter-with the' spindle plate s, constitutes i the axle of rotation. Each thrust armd', is provided with an. extension member. (1

formed with a sleeve socket di, fitting over 5 the thrust arm d,--said sleeve. d pbeing provided with a set screw 01*, whereby the extension member (Z is adjustable secured to said thrust arm d.

Pivotally mounted on the outer endof each extension member (2 .is a coupling The. connecting link L, is formed socket pieces Z; Z, for, engagement tongues It, said socket tongue It: a with end with the coupling pieces Z, Z, being providedwith set screws Z,

".15 Z, whereby the. connecting link L, andjthe coupling tongues- 15, may be rigidly secured to ether the length of thetongues 1:515,

aii ordingfa suitablemargin of adjustment in" 4 I the-application my dirigible'lamp mech-' anism to. automobiles of different width. In

this respectthe. means of connection between the lamp spindles referred toythe novelty. in the present case.

consisting in the use of the sleeve extension d (i and binding screwrl,

by which I attain a more simple and substantial pling i tongue It. This spring. controlled pivotal oint shown more i particularly in to which it will be seen Fig; 8, by reference.

thatthe pivot d, consists of 'a-headed screw stud on the outer" end of theextensionniemoer (Z of the thrust arnrd", betweenthe head of whichstudd, and the eye t; of the a spring (1 which exerts an elastic resilient pressure on coupling tongue is inter-posed 40 said coupling tongue,- said spring by yield.-

ing underfthe Vibration to which the parts are subjected-during theuse of the car, preventing"iind ue strain while tendingcon '5 stantly to maintain the propercontact and v aline ent of parts;

being duplicated at each endfof the connect This yieldable joint ing link L,Yprotects both lamp spindles ening of the metal'by crystallization due to vibration, particularly in the. intermed ate For a similar connections between spindles. re'as'on both lamp afiles are h'eld' 1n= position tension applied to the on the bolt S, and a collar splined to' the.

-,Figs. 5. 9. Thus, in Fig. 9,.- the splin'ed as in Fig. the splined. mitergear 8, answers the same purpose the tensionv of the spring 8 in either' case being exerted to hold the spindle plates, down upon the ball bear- .-i !igs, while obviat-i ng dangerous rigidity and adjust-f "ableextensi'on of 'the thru'st rodd; and alsof in the use of a springcontrolled joint 'be- 30 tween the extension inemberd andthe con-'- against undue strain, and obviates the .weahreferred to consists ofa disk s'-,'where- I is essentially the-same asin my concurrent application hereinbefore brication spindle bolts, and resting against the'under side ofthe bearing bracket 1), as shown in rattling) The splined'miter gear .9, on the primary lamp spindle shown in Fig 5, meshes with a corresponding miter gear h on the-inner end at the same time preventing looseness or -of rock shaft it, which is journalcd in the standard 'b,'and has rigidly attached to its outer end the rock lever i. Interposcdbetween the miter" gear It, and the standaid Z),

a take'up spring k which tends constantlv to thrust the shaft h,.inward with the rocr lever sleeve :socke't i', resting against the outer side. of the-standard b, and with miter gear h, in close engagement with the spindle gear .s'-"," as" shown. in Fig. 5. The

spring- 7L2, howeyer, yields 'sufiiciently to obviate. undue strain which =might otherwise result during rough. travel, and prevents looseriess, while compensatin fforwear, &c.. Since theinotion of the rock ever i, is necessarily prescribedto less. than a half circle it is obvious that segmental miter gears may be substitutedfor those shown in the drawings with like results,'and'without departing frointlie' spiritandintent of my invention in thisrespect. v y j In orderito isolate'and protect the miter gearing, and afford adequate ineansof lucasi'ng' adapted to holda suitable fiuid or semi-fluid lubricant. This. casing may obviously be fiormed' in various .ways with like result; In

thefdrawings I haye shown it as formed of a shell-{Abound to the standard I), by a strap c,' and closed at top by the under side Qi beefing p e-b", and at bottom ype-pure I thus forming a sealer chamber for the lubricant. r r i The rock-lever i, ZELllCllllDQd on-the rock shaft h", as above set forth, is connected with the member o of] the vehicle steering .gear through the medium of the transmitting rod 47,, and the-clamp m, which'latter is secured a of the said rock lever z, and loosely through a horizontal eye piece a, on the forward end of the connectlngrod n.-a nut 1 Fig. 3. arting as a shoulder-to prevent the displacement of the coupling bolt '1 interposed between the head of. the coupling .bolt ifland the horizontal eye piece a, and

tends constantly to force the latter against. the rock lever 2', as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and (l. The rear endof the transmitting rod )1, is formed with a vertical eye piece 72 through therefor; I inclose them in a tight.

the

A spring i, is

tbs-7,228 3 which extends a yertieal studscreW ,m, at tached to the u per endo'fthe cl'ampm, '(seeparticularly ,Fig. A spring m is 1n-' 'lterposed between the head of the studiscrew m, and the upper e'ndof the clamp m, and

,tends constantlyltopressthe eye piece of,

down against: said upper'end' of the'cla-mp m. ."lhusthe transmittingrod 'nfis conintruslon of dust, dlr-t, &c.

stood Thetransmittingrod vi, rocks the.

nected by a vertical pivot to the steer mg gear clamp m, and by a horizontalpivot to the rock lever ii,-- botl ijoints being loose and controlled/by "elastic resilient tension springs, s0 that said transmittingirod is free to adapt itself to all the requirements o't use without binding or'stiain in either-of the connected parts. a Furthermore the springs by taking the slack prevent undue Wear and noise." The spindle plate is formed with a per pheral hp flanges, Wl11Cl1 protectsthe anti-friction race Way against the The loperatiion of my improved lamp wivel mechanism will be readily, underlever i which causes the gear h',-- toturn the splined gear .sf, thereby turning theprimary spindle on its ball bearing, and this motion-is transmitted to the left hand or secondary lamp spindle, through the me- .dium' of the thrust farms 7,

tongues t, -a ndcoupling link L.

The adjustment of the extension mem simplebut cheap, and eflecti-ve means for controlling the rearward extension'ot conable protrusions pling tongues t, and coupling .link L, so that thelatter maybe positioned close. to the" front-ofthe hood'of the car, By the useof the elastic resilient spring tensioirjointsI also safe guard the apparatus against undue tortuous strain, and counteract, the effects of the vibration to which the parts are neccee,

sarily subjected during useupon an automobile.- l-lence rattling, noise and excessive \vear are eliminated, and the resistance,

or power requisite for operating the lamps,'

is reduced to the minimum. Another Cadantage is'that the arrangement of parts is compact, direct and close to the. frame of the machine, so that there are no objection- \Vhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. In lamp swivel mechanism of the character designated, actuated bymotion derived from the steering gear of the vehicle, the combination of a steering gear clamp, a rock lever, a transmitting rod interposed between saidstccring gearclamp and said rock lever,

coupling and formed with end eye members occupying planes at rightangles to each other, stud bolts. on the steering gearclamp and in the rock lever engaging said eye members on the ends of the transmitting rod, springs on said stud bolts bearing against said eye members of the transn'ntting rod, a.rock shaft to uhich said rock lever is attached, a miter gear onvsaid rock shaft, lamp spindle and amite'r gear thereon engaging with that on said rock. shatt, for the purpose described.-

2,.- In lamp swivel mechanismof the character designated, actuatedby motion derived from the steering gear of thevehi-cle, the' --combination of a steering gearclamp formed with a -vertical stud bolt, a transmitting rod formed with a rear endicye member engaging said vertical stud bolt, a spring on said vertical stud bolt bearing against said rear eye member of the transmitting rod, a rock lever provided with a horizontal stud bolt,

a front end eye meinber'on saidtransmitting rod engaging said horizontal stud" bolt or the rock lever, a springbn said horizontal stud bolt bearing against said front end eye member on the transmitting rod, a rock shaft to which saidrock lever is attached, a miter gear on said rock shaft, alamp spindle, and,

a miter gear thereon engaging with that on the roeksliaft, for the purpose descr1bed.,

In lamp swivel mechanism of the chartrmn'the steering gear otthe vehicle, the combination of a steering gear clamp, a rock lever, transimt-ti-ng means interposed betiveen said clamp and leverand having members disposed in planes at substantially rlghtangles to each other, springs bearing against saidhi'nembers, a rock shaft to which said rock lever is attacl1ed,,and a lamp spin 'dle rcvoluble trom' said rock shaft.

4. In lamp swivelmechanism of the Chill} acte'r' designated, actuated by motion derived-from the steering gear of thevehie'lh,

the combination of asteering gear clamp, a rocklever, transmitting means interposed "between said; clamp and lever and having members disposed in planes at substantially right angles to each other, springs beaa'mg against. said members, a rock shaft to which .said rock lever is attached, a lamp spindle revoluble from said rock shaft, a spindle plate, an annular ball'bearing for the lamp spindle, and a spring tending to hold the spindle plate downupon said ball' bearin acterdesi'gnated, actuated-by motion derived v 5. Inlamp swivel mechanism'of the 'charactor designated actuated by motion de rived from the'steering gear off the Vehicle,

the combination of a steering gear clamp, a rock lever, a transmitting rod interposed. between and ,pivotally connected with said.

steering gear clamp and said rock lever and having members disposed at substantially right angles to each other, a spring bearing Hui-inst said members, a rock shaft to which purpose described.

6'. In lamp swivel mechanism of the character designated, actuated by motion derivedfrom the steerlng gear of the vehicle,

the combination of a steering gear clamp, a rock lever, a transmitting rod interposed between and pivotally coimected with said steering 'gear-clan'ip and said rock lever and having members disposed at substantially right angles to each other, a spring bearing against said members, a rock shaft to which said rock lever is attached, a miter gear on said rock shaft, a tension spring on said rock shaft interposed between the rock shaft bearing and said miter gear, a lamp spindle and a miter gear thereon engaging with thaton the rock shaft, for the purpose described.

7. In lamp'swivel mechanism of the character designated, actuated by motion derived from the steering gear of the vehicle, the combination with each of two lamp spindles of a thrust arm mounted thereon, an

extension member on each of said thrust arms formed with a socket sleeve embracing the thrust arm, and with a set screw for locking the extension member in position on said thrust arm, coupling tongues, one piv otally attached to each of said extension HlBlTllJCPS, a connecting link formed with end socket pieces engaging said coupling tongues and set screws on said end. socket pieces for securing the connecting link adjustably upon said coupling tongues, for the nn-pose set forth.- i

In lamp swivel mechanism of the character designated, actuated by motion derived from the steering gear of the vehicle, the combination with oath of twin lamp, spindles of a thrust arm mounted thereon, a stud bolt on the outer end of each thrust arm, coupling tongues, one pivotally attached to each of said stud bolls, springs on said stud bolts pressing the coupling tongues against said thrust arms, a connecting link formed with end socket pieces engaging said coupling tongues and set screws on said end socket pieces for securing the connecting link to said coupling pins.

9. In lamp swivel mechanism of the char- .steering gear clamp and said rock lever and hafing members disposed. at substantially right angles to each other, a spring bearing against said members, a rock shaft to which said rock lever is attached, a miter gear on said rock shaft, a lamp spindle, a miter gear thereon engaging with that on the rock shaft, a second lamp spindle, and means connecting the two said spindles in such manner that they move in unison, the purpose described.

it). In lamp swivel mechanism 01 the character designated, actuated by motion derived from the steering gear. of the vehicle, the combination of a steering g ar clamp, a rock lever, a transmitting rod interposed between-and pivotally connected with said steering gear clamp and said rock lever, a rock shaft to which said rock lever is attached, a miter gear on said rock shaft, a lamp spindle, a miter gear thereon engaging with that on the rock shaft, an annular ball bearing supporting said lamp spindle, a tension spring arranged to press said lamp spindle against said annular ball bearing, a second lamp spindle, an annular ball bearing supporting said last-named lamp spindle. a tension spring arranged to press said last-nan'ied lamp spindl 1 against its annular ball bearing, and means connect-- ing the two spindles in such manner that they move in unison, as and for the. purpose described.

JAMES AUSTIN ELLISON. V itncsses 'lnmus LEWIS,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commis ioner of Patents,

, 7 Washington. I). C." 

